Billy Graham BB.net Interview Part 1

[Poncey]

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3473- ... t-One.html

Good interview with Bill, Shaggy!

[dondada]

Terry's a media superstar now...he's doing a radio interview shortly.

The stuff Billy says about the fat bloke at ringside is funny as!

[Poncey]

Will the listeners be able to understand him?! 8)

[Wales]

A face for radio if every there was one!

How many buses will it take to get there? Always great when you're driving with Terry in Manchester, "Which way is it tel, how do we get there" .... "I dont know the way in a car, I usually get the 42, then the 26 walk under the underpass and catch the 31"

[EddieShredder]

Good interview Terry... cheers, enjoyed ready that

[hitman_hatton1]

yeah good stuff.

billy needs a chill pill after a fight by the sounds of it.

the press were always gonna make moutains out of molehills after what happened.

i never had any doubts that hatton and graham would stay together.

that's bad in the corner.

the trainers should be getting a good clear view of things.

ridiculous.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I'm not a sore loser BUT 'insert excuses about the Ref, Judges, etc etc'

[Chambers2]

Good read, I enjoyed that.

I wonder if Billys excuses for Ducking Witter are any better than Rickys?

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Witters not an issue anymore Chambers, it was avoidance, it might have happened in 2 years if Junior got some good wins. Juniors career looks pretty dead and hes in no mans land. The reason for the fight not happening was simple risk-reward. Allot of fighters who already have allot will not risk a loss for little reward

[Chambers2]

Witters not an issue anymore Chambers, it was avoidance, it might have happened in 2 years if Junior got some good wins. Juniors career looks pretty dead and hes in no mans land. The reason for the fight not happening was simple risk-reward. Allot of fighters who already have allot will not risk a loss for little reward

I agree that the fight hasn't took place due to the risk reward ratio, but IMO that's not an acceptable reason to rob the British fans of a fight of this size. It's a good job Nigel Benn and numerous others didn't adopt the same attitude, else we'd have never got to see landmark fights such as Benn-Eubank. Hatton claims to have a warrior like attitude and claims to fight for the fans, but in reality he's done the opposite. He pisses in our pockets and tells us it's raining, that's what narks me.

You said that the fight might have happened a few years down the line, but I disagree, Hatton wouldn't fight him whilst Junior had a breath in his body, else it would have happened by now. Junior shouldn't have been made to jump through hoops and made to fill in an ever-increasing tick list of requirements, Ricky 'should' have wanted the fight as much as Junior to shut him up and prove he's the best at 140 in Britain, instead he hid behind a mulitude of excuses.

[Wales]

They didint want to line his pockets, simple. Tell me, whats juniors biggest pay day?, will he live the rest of his life in luxuory? Could he retire now and live the rest of his life without being paid? If he fought Hatton would he have been able to? Probbaly yes. I find it ludicrous that some people still think Hatton was scared of witter even though he fought Tszyu and Mayweather (to name but 2).

[EddieShredder]

Witters not an issue anymore Chambers, it was avoidance, it might have happened in 2 years if Junior got some good wins. Juniors career looks pretty dead and hes in no mans land. The reason for the fight not happening was simple risk-reward. Allot of fighters who already have allot will not risk a loss for little reward

I agree that the fight hasn't took place due to the risk reward ratio, but IMO that's not an acceptable reason to rob the British fans of a fight of this size. It's a good job Nigel Benn and numerous others didn't adopt the same attitude, else we'd have never got to see landmark fights such as Benn-Eubank. Hatton claims to have a warrior like attitude and claims to fight for the fans, but in reality he's done the opposite. He pisses in our pockets and tells us it's raining, that's what narks me.

You said that the fight might have happened a few years down the line, but I disagree, Hatton wouldn't fight him whilst Junior had a breath in his body, else it would have happened by now. Junior shouldn't have been made to jump through hoops and made to fill in an ever-increasing tick list of requirements, Ricky 'should' have wanted the fight as much as Junior to shut him up and prove he's the best at 140 in Britain, instead he hid behind a mulitude of excuses.

Agreed. As much as I hate a lot of the hatton bashing/witter nut-hugging on this board, thats the reality right there^^

Hatton should have given Witter the fight, it would have been massive, and Witter was at least as deserving as all of Hattons opponents bar Tszyu and Castillo (arguably more deserving than the latter.)

Bottom line is, Hatton didn't fancy the fight, or his chances of winning, otherwise he'd have taken it. He forever changed the goalposts/his excuses. The fact that Witter has now been beaten, will undoubtedly bring about all the "he was never good enough anyway" rubbish, but the fact is, Hatton really didn't facy this one. Whatever his legacy, i'll personally always remember him for ducking Witter and depriving the fans and public of a massive UK fight that should have happened.

[Wales]

Didnt fancy Witter but fancied Tszyu? Get real.

[EddieShredder]

Didnt fancy Witter but fancied Tszyu? Get real.

Yes. The rewards for fighting Tszyu were massive, not so for Witter.

I'm a Hatton fan, BUT his ducking of Witter was shameful. There hasn't been a consistent excuse for not fighting him over the years, it's changed everytime he's been asked.

The rewards for fighting both Tszyu and Mayweather were massive, but the same can't be said for fighting Witter. I honestly don't think he fancied it... there can't be any other reason for it not to have happened. If Witter sold places out, and had a massive name then maybe he would have taken the fight, but as it was, he could use any number excuses to avoid taking the risk.

If Hattons excuses had been consistent with his choice of opponent, then you might have an argument, but they're not. You tell me that (prior to the Bradley fight, when these decisions were made), Lazcano or Urango were better attractions/ticket sellers, or even more worthy challengers than Witter? Nonsense.

[Wales]

No, but he didnt mind lining Lazcano or Urangos pockets.

Wanted to fight Hatton to clamour out of the fornicating big hole he dug himself in that shameful fight against Judah. How many casual fans know who witter is? I'll bet barely nione, however, had he fougth Hatton he'dve been on talk shows, making a cool million for the fight plus extras and receiving US exposure, which until very very recently he hasnt had.

Hatton was the potential springboard for Juniors career. As it happens he's lost to bradley and picked up peanuts through the long KO streak and even for his title shots that nobody wanted to see.

Are you also suggesting Ricky was scared of Tszyu and Mayweather, but fought them for the money?

[Max Molyneux]

They didint want to line his pockets, simple. Tell me, whats juniors biggest pay day?, will he live the rest of his life in luxuory? Could he retire now and live the rest of his life without being paid? If he fought Hatton would he have been able to? Probbaly yes. I find it ludicrous that some people still think Hatton was scared of witter even though he fought Tszyu and Mayweather (to name but 2).

The excuses would look more valid fighting Tszyu and Mayweather though.

No, but he didnt mind lining Lazcano or Urangos pockets.

Why line up lesser fighters pockets though?

[Wales]

WHAT? I think you're missing the point. Line their pockets as in give them a pay day, and the adulation / notoriety. hatton, win or lose, was Juniors meal ticket. Unfortuanatly for him he's gonna have to have a big breakfast and work for his lunch in later life. Hatton on the other hand has free food from now till he meets his maker.

[Max Molyneux]

WHAT? I think you're missing the point. Line their pockets as in give them a pay day, and the adulation / notoriety. hatton, win or lose, was Juniors meal ticket. Unfortuanatly for him he's gonna have to have a big breakfast and work for his lunch in later life. Hatton on the other hand has free food from now till he meets his maker.

Nothing wrong with working for his living, Witter even said he would of taken a low payday to fight him.

He reckoned he had good enough money to be comfortable anyway.

Sorry, not missing any point. He didn't want to line his pockets but would line a lesser risks pockets still.

[EddieShredder]

No, but he didnt mind lining Lazcano or Urangos pockets.

Wanted to fight Hatton to clamour out of the effing big hole he dug himself in that shameful fight against Judah. How many casual fans know who witter is? I'll bet barely nione, however, had he fougth Hatton he'dve been on talk shows, making a cool million for the fight plus extras and receiving US exposure, which until very very recently he hasnt had.

Hatton was the potential springboard for Juniors career. As it happens he's lost to bradley and picked up peanuts through the long KO streak and even for his title shots that nobody wanted to see.

Are you also suggesting Ricky was scared of Tszyu and Mayweather, but fought them for the money?

Scared isn't the word i'd use, but the rewards both financially and legacy wide for fighting either were far superior to fighting Witter, thus the risk was worth it.

If he lost to either, then he's only lost to genuine p4p'ers, real greats.... his marketability/legacy wouldn't wane. If however he lost to Witter, his stock takes a massive dent.

If Ricky thought he'd beat Witter easily, you can bet your bottom dollar he'd have made that fight. After all, he does apparenly "hate" him... why not fight him, prove your the best and shut him up. Why not reward the fans he apparently cares so much about with a British superfight??

My main problem with it is that Ricky's excuses and reasons for not fighting Witter are so inconsistent, and it's not as if he's been fighting better opposition all the way along either. Yes, Tszyu, Mayweather and Castillo are great names on his resume, but if you're telling me it was more important to fight Collazo, Urango, Lazcano? Bollocks.

No, i'm not saying that he would fight Mayweather and Tsyzu but is scared of Witter. What I am saying is that despite it being a fight that everyone wanted, and the fans deserved, he considered Witter to be too much of a risk to fight him. He could recover from losses to Tsyzu and Mayweather, thats not necessarily the case with a Witter fight.

To be honest, if he'd just come out and said "I'm not fighting Witter, Ever, and thats that" i'd probably have more respect for him than saying "let him win a belt first" or "he doesn't bring enough to the table" or "i don't like the way he talks about me" (which is exactly the way he got the Mayweather fight, lets not forget)... They all just sound like excuses.... which they are. Poor form from the "peoples champ".

It's irrelevant now anyway, I guess.

[Wales]

What does risk have to do with not wanitng to line his pockets? nothing...

Also, what would witter have got form the fight (aside fomr cash). National exposure in the UK (somehting he has never had), international exposure (he's had a little but I'll wager a high percentage of US fans have only seen him in with Judah, or not at all). Talk shows, maybe. TV appearences in abundance, defienetly (Sky sports news etc...). national press interviews, a documentery on him and his KO streak?
This wouldve lifted him from the puss filled mire he dug for himself with the Judah fight in the US and from behind Rickays shadow in the UK. He had another chance to drag himself into the limelight by performing agianst bradley, but alas, he was shit and ITV (and their viewers) will now turn off.

I never said there was something wrong with working for a living, but what exactly is he going to do? And I think the point with boxing is to make as much dollar as you can whilst active to support youerself and your family after retirement.

[EddieShredder]

Are you now saying that Ricky wouldn't fight Junior because he didn't want him to have a better standard of living later in life, or further his career immediately??

What shit.

Hatton should have fought Witter because he was the champ, and Witter was the no1 contender for a large portion of his reign. Add to that, they were both British, and that Witter consistently met all of Hattons demands, and there really is no excuse for the fight not to have happened.

A champion should fight the best available contender? Agree?? I guess not.

[Wales]

If Ricky thought he'd beat Witter easily, you can bet your bottom dollar he'd have made that fight. After all, he does apparenly "hate" him... why not fight him, prove your the best and shut him up. Why not reward the fans he apparently cares so much about with a British superfight??.

If you hated someone would you give them a million quid and stardom? Or let them fester fighting no hopers in leisure centres for years whilst your in vegas fighting superstars in front of millions.

If he cared about his fans and all that wouldnt you think that his fight on Saturday would be on at 8pm on BBC1 (or ITV) and not for £14.99 on sky box office? Its all about the green.

It's irrelevant now anyway, I guess.

Totally irrelevant unless he loses a couple, starting on Saturday night.

[Wales]

Are you now saying that Ricky wouldn't fight Junior because he didn't want him to have a better standard of living later in life, or further his career immediately??

What shit.

Hatton should have fought Witter because he was the champ, and Witter was the no1 contender for a large portion of his reign. Add to that, they were both British, and that Witter consistently met all of Hattons demands, and there really is no excuse for the fight not to have happened.

A champion should fight the best available contender? Agree?? I guess not.

Yes, thats what Im suggesting. You're suggesting Witter was more of a risk and less of a reward than fighting Collazo at 5 weeks notice at the weight above?

For how long was witter #2 in the division? He was #2 in the country, not the division. People brush under the carpet his performances agiant Lynes and Kontelink! Infact, was he ever #2 in the division? Maybe, but only for a couple of months.

[EddieShredder]

You're suggesting Witter was more of a risk and less of a reward than fighting Collazo at 5 weeks notice at the weight above?

For how long was witter #2 in the division? He was #2 in the country, not the division. People brush under the carpet his performances agiant Lynes and Kontelink! Infact, was he ever #2 in the division? Maybe, but only for a couple of months.

No, I'm suggesting Hatton considered him more of a risk. IMO Hatton thought Witters style, and perhaps (percieved) power would cause him more problems than, for example, Collazo (who I think Ricky underestimated massively).

I think for the past year, up to the Bradley defeat, Witter was generally considered the second best LWW, behind Hatton and very slightly ahead of Malignaggi.

[Chambers2]

They didint want to line his pockets, simple. Tell me, whats juniors biggest pay day?, will he live the rest of his life in luxuory? Could he retire now and live the rest of his life without being paid? If he fought Hatton would he have been able to? Probbaly yes. I find it ludicrous that some people still think Hatton was scared of witter even though he fought Tszyu and Mayweather (to name but 2).

So Hatton has deprived the British fans of a massive fight solely to him not wanting Junior to have a payday, I don't believe that's true I think it's just one of a multitude of excuses, if it is true then it's equally as bad as anything that I've accused to him of IMO. Lets not make out that Junior is on the breadline either, he'll have made a good living from boxing and be better off than the majority of retiring boxers and men in the street.

The whole spiteful notion that Hatton was willing not to fight him so he couldn't have a payday despite the fans, writers and pundits calling for the fight, speaks volumes about Hatton and his inflated ego IMO.

Even if Hatton had lined up Witter for after Lazcano/Paulie or even mentioned that he would fight him then I may be looking on this matter differently, but Rickys had more than ample opportunity to fit Witter in.... there's only so many excuses I could take before tiring of him. To me it seems obvious that Ricky didn't fancy his chances in the fight and couldn't stand the thought of losing to Junior. Manchester Mexican Warrior my arse!!

Rickys got some similar physical attributes to Timothy Bradley (solid chin and good fitness) who has just showed the textbook way how to beat someone with Witters style, if Hatton could have done what Bradley did to Witter (he may have needed to work on his straight right) then he'd have gone down as British Boxing legend, but he bottled it and it will forever taint his legacy IMO.